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The Iowa Idea: Rachel Williams
“There are people who work really hard at it.”
In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I’m joined by Rachel Williams. Rachel is a native of Eastern North Carolina. She holds a Ph.D. in Art Education and an M.F.A. in Studio Art from Florida State University. She is an Associate Professor of Gender Women’s and Sexuality Studies and Studio Art at the University of Iowa where she has worked since 1999. Her writing appears in Southern Cultures, Meridians, the Journal of Arts Management Law and Society, The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Feminist Studies, and Visual Arts Research. She is also the author of Teaching the Arts Behind Bars. Rachel has had two books published this year; Elegy for Mary Turner, and Run Home If You Don’t Want to Be Killed: The Detroit Uprising of 1943.
Rachel shares her journey becoming an artist, teacher, author and why she’s a self-described fangirl of history. We discuss her work and influences. We explore her experience working with and teaching art to incarcerated women since 1994. Rachel shares the powerful and disturbing story of Mary Turner, who was lynched while eight-months pregnant. Rachel’s latest books highlight the ugliness of white supremacy and white violence, and how we continue to struggle with these issues today. Please note, if you buy Elegy for Mary Turner, the profits go to The National Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
It was an honor having Rachel join me on the show. I’d like to thank her for her time and perspective. I hope you enjoy the episode.
About Rachel
Rachel Williams, a native of Eastern North Carolina. She holds a Ph.D. in Art Education and an M.F.A. in Studio Art from Florida State University. She is an Associate Professor of Gender Women’s and Sexuality Studies and Studio Art at the University of Iowa where she has worked since 1999. Her writing appears in Southern Cultures, Meridians, the Journal of Arts Management Law and Society, The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Feminist Studies, and Visual Arts Research. She is also the author of Teaching the Arts Behind Bars (Northeastern U. Press, 2003) Elegy for Mary Turner (Verso Press, 2021) and Run Home If You Don’t Want to Be Killed: The Detroit Uprising of 1943 (UNC Press/Duke Center for Documentary Studies, 2021).
Links
https://uncpress.org/book/9781469663272/run-home-if-you-dont-want-to-be-killed/
https://www.versobooks.com/authors/2510-rachel-marie-crane-williams
https://www.civilandhumanrights.org/
Credits
Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/).
The Iowa Idea Podcast theme music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).